Ronaldo surprises, says Salah can win the Ballon d'Or this year

Cristiano Ronaldo believes Liverpool's sensation, Mohamed Salah, is a true contender to break his dominance over a decade and Lionel Messi in the Golden Ball race.

Salah has enjoyed an amazing debut season for Liverpool, winning the Golden Boot in Premier League and scored 44 goals in all races.

His exceptional form of Egyptian helped the Reds reach a surprise final of the Champions League against Ronaldo's Real Madrid, but his beautiful dream ended in tears because the injury in the side forced him to leave the lost game too early 3-1 in Kiev.

Ronaldo, who has shared with Messi five Golden Balls each since 2008, hopes that Egyptian will be sound and ready for the World Cup.

Salah has been among the discoveries of the year, Ronaldo said.

I hope the injury to the finals in Kiev will not keep him out of the World Cup, he added.

Many people talk about the battle for the Golden Ball between Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, but there are other players who have a chance to compete. Salah is of course one of them, Cristiano said.